Windward Heart Center, LLC

 

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Hypertension, or High Blood pressure, is often referred to as the silent killer as it usually does not cause any symptoms until a catastrophe happens such as a heart attack. The goal of treating your blood pressure is to lower it, to decrease the chance of a heart attack, stroke or kidney failure in the future.

The current goal is to have your blood pressure consistently below 140/90, and if you have had a heart attack or are diabetic, to have it below 130/80.

120/80 is the optimal blood pressure for everyone and is associated with the lowest incidents of events.

As with most treatments you should monitor your response to therapy.

Home Blood Pressure monitoring will give you and your doctor a guide to how you are doing, and how close to the above goals you are. There are now easy to use home blood pressure cuffs that can be purchased for under a $100. The heart center does offer these at a modest price. Isolated blood pressure readings in the doctorÕs office may be misleadingly high, and home readings over a period of time are more reliable.

We recommend you take you blood pressure three to four times a day over a two week period once you start treatment, and keep a log of your readings so you can discuss them with your doctor on the next visit. It is also recommended that you periodically monitor check your blood pressures once control has been reached.

Therapy including lifestyle management and medication taken on a regular basis are both equally important. Lifestyle changes includes a low fat, high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables, no tobacco, infrequent alcohol, regular exercise, and maintaining a weight reasonable.( BMI below 30).

There are many types of medications to treat high blood and you may need more than one type to achieve the above targets. Some people may even need three or four medications working at different points in the body to achieve the target blood pressure. Medications that are chosen should be once or twice a day and not have too many side effects. You will need to tell your doctor if you are having problems with your medications so that they can be adjusted or changed because of side effects.

Optimal blood pressure control is much more difficult to achieve if you continue to smoke, drink and are overweight.

Medication is usually lifelong, unless there are meaningful lifestyle changes such as significant weight loss if you are obese.